New Zealand landlord mocked for laughable ‘bedroom’ containing laundry
From the outside, the house look idyllic. But wait until you see the ridiculous room the landlord is trying to pass off as a bedroom.
A landlord has been slammed online for advertising a laundry as a bedroom to rent for $75 a week.
Images loaded to the listing on New Zealand classifieds website Trade Me show a single bed lining one side of the room, with the other side occupied by a washing machine, laundry sink and cupboard.
The washing machine is only used on Saturday mornings, according to the advertisement.
A potential renter would only need to pay for their food and toiletries, the NZ Herald reports.
The laundry in Welcome Bay, Tauranga, on New Zealand’s North Island was listed on Trade Me last week, but has been removed after causing an uproar.
Amenities in the home included large gardens with avocados, a spa and “all mod cons”.
Trade Me’s head of trust and safety, George Hiotakis, said it was important for members listing a room in their house to be honest.
“The seller looks to have been very upfront with the images and description of the property, which is what we ask of all our members,” he said.
“Renting a laundry room definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.”
Hiotakis said Trade Me recommended prospective tenants ask questions, check out the seller’s feedback and check the accommodation out for themselves.
The median market rent in the Welcome Bay area this month is $A476, according to New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Tenancy Services website.
The listing has angered many people on social media who claim the advertisement is taking advantage of desperate people in a tough housing market.
However, the advertisement has also attracted support from others who said the laundry looked clean, tidy and adequate for someone who did not need much space.
Tauranga Community Housing Trust housing services manager John Gibson said a laundry was not adequate housing.
“It’s not suitable or sustainable,” he said.
“It goes to show the lack of options available for people.”
SociaLink board member Tessa Mackenzie said the laundry listing was a reflection of Tauranga’s housing needs.
“At least that is someone that could potentially not be sleeping on the street. But then it’s not appropriate housing,” she said.
Changes to rental legislation had compounded housing availability issues as some landlords had chosen to sell up rather than spend money to get their properties up to the new standard, she said.
“One of the issues is there aren’t a lot of alternatives that meet the requirements,” she said.
Ms Mackenzie said there had been a lot of talk about what could be done to address Tauranga’s housing issues, but “not a lot of actual action to address it”.
This article originally appeared in the NZ Herald and was republished with permission
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